Ray Allen: No worries about the preseason numbers

Ray Allen doesn’t appear to be hindered much by his surgically-repaired ankle, but is not yet near his career norms in terms of shooting accuracy.

Of course, it’s a tiny sample size — just 22 three-point shots in all, of which he’s made six.

Allen said he isn’t concerned:

“It would be like worrying about my stats in practice.”

Of more import to him? Getting a sense of his teammates’ tendencies to develop some sort of overall rhythm. That’s been a challenge with the Heat missing a starter and two potential rotation players for the entire preseason so far, which has often put Allen on the floor with former teammate Rashard Lewis and three players who aren’t likely to fill prominent roles.

He valued the time with Dwyane Wade on Saturday, in a three-guard lineup with Norris Cole.

“Well, yeah, the other night was interesting, because I was trying to read off him, when he goes to the basket,” Allen said of Wade. “One time when he went to the basket, he made a late pass. He makes late passes. He jumps up and he’ll fling it to you, so I’ve got to know where to be and make sure I keep myself available to him. Small little things like that. That, when I played against him, you don’t think about it. But when you’re on the same team as him, you’ve got to make sure you always give an outlet.”

Allen said this sort of thinking is part of the feeling out process that is holding him back, but over time, his reactions will come more naturally.